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I decided I can't really do a top ten, mostly because I don't track down that much in the way of premium craft, and also because I can't remember all the beers. So next year I plan to make some notes, and hopefuly, I'll have a better list. This year I have decided to do 10 beers of note. They may not be completely awesome, but they all are very very good, and noteworthy for my tastes. I also pay a little more homage to the brewery than the brew, for what it is worth.
So here goes:

10) Saint Arnold Winter Stout. Their best beer by far. Not a great stout that is bold and going for something incredible, but a very well balanced, nicely done stout, that should be available for about $7.50 a sixer.

9) Bear Republic Big Bear Stout. Now this is more like a stout going for something incredible. And they attain it. Bear Republic makes several excellent brews, and Racer 5 is a top IPA, but I think the Big Bear is their best beer, and it is an excellent one.

8) Brooklyn IPA. This is so well done, and the hops are so good, without a metallic aftertaste, it is really amazing. Another solid brewery, and this to me, is their top of the line.

7) Lagunitas Maxximus. Same as above, strong brewery, with good lines. I love this beer.

6) Shiner Cheer. It flew off the shelves here in Houston. It is my favorite of the winter pecans I found, followed by Abita, and Southern Magnolia. I think it is the hint of peaches that put it over the top. If you can't find it, try their Bohemian Black.

5) Sierra Nevada Celebration. This year's was just as memorable as the last few, and to me, it is just about a perfect beer.

4) Great Divide Hibernation Ale. This is an absolutely awesome beer. One of my favorites of the winter season. It falls in their big beer line, and along with Hercules Dbl IPA, is just excellent.

3) Wychwood Hobgoblin Old Ale. This is the best Old Ale style brew I found this year. It is very well done, and packs a nice punch. Great beer.

2) Great Divide Oak Aged Yeti. I like Great Divide so much, I had to put two beers on the list. This, to me, is the best beer they do. If you like big stouts, this is about as good as you can get.

1) Anchor Christmas Ale. My top beer this year. Unreal flavor packed in with great hoppiness, and spice. A very special beer.

And mine.

I am thinking about 2009.

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1 - Russian River Consecration - Introduced to the world of sours with this one. Jeff says "hey, you guys have to try this" and so it went. I still haven't had (in my opinion) a better beer.2 - Lost Abbey Duck Duck Gooze - The only thing close to Consecration, for me.3 - Alesmith Kopi Luwak Speedway Stout - Hands down, the best stout I've ever had. If I liked stouts as much as NAG does, this would be my favorite beer ever.4 - Cantillon Fou' Foune - Jeff traded bottles of Black Tuesday for this, and I felt like he got the better end of the deal. That's how good this stuff is.5 - Russian River Pliny The Younger - Had this a few months down the line when it was "not as good as it was when it was released" and it was STILL the best IPA I've ever had.6 - Alesmith Summer Yulesmith - The best non-PTY IPA out there.7 - Lost Abbey 2009 Sinner's Blend - Lucked into the first glass, was given the second glass for free. Or was it three glasses total? It was a blur. Special beer, for sure. Possibly worth signing up for the Sinner's Club. Possibly.8 - Alpine Pure Hoppiness - My first Alpine, and the best of the bunch. Which is saying a lot, because this place is doing special things.9 - Pizza Port Plant to Pint - To a fault, I don't order something I've had before unless there's nothing new that I'm interested in. For the last few months, whenever I see Plant to Pint on a menu, I make sure to order one before we leave. This is the first beer that has done that to me. Granted, the first beer that I had fallen in love with and was fairly widely available in my area.10 - Lost Abbey Cable Car - I had Two Turtle Doves here a minute ago, but I can't leave Cable Car off of my list. The keg blew in, what, 10 minutes? Tells you all you need to know about this one.

I didn't think I would be able to settle on a top ten, and now I want to keep going. I'm pretty sure these are the ten best 2009 releases I've had this year.

Though, I've just changed #10 about 5 or 6 times now. I should just keep going. 1-9 is solid, though I feel so wrong not having any Dogfish Head up here.

edit: Expounding, edited 10 AGAIN. How could I forget Cable Car?

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I will wait a little for my top ten, because I am such a huge fan of the winter releases, and I haven't sampled all just yet. I know Anchor has done a terrific one this year, and Celebration was a bit off, but Delirium St Bernardus and Scaldis all were home runs. Heck, I could do a top ten winter for 2009.

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10. Green Flash Palate Wrecker - I kept ordering this every time it was on tap somewhere, so I must love it.
9. Deschutes The Abyss - Had it last spring and loved it. Had it again last weekend and still loved it.
8. Russian River Pliny the Elder - Just a great, complex IIPA. Can't say anything about this one that hasn't already been said.
7. Port Plant to Pint - Best of the fresh hopped ales that I tried this year. Sticking your nose in a pint of this is the hoppy equivalent that sticking your nose in a baggie of your roommates' fresh bud was in college.
6. Green Flash Double Coffee Stout - I tried this by accident. Hungus and I were at BLAH, and I ordered a Speedway Stout to cap off the evening...but as is my luck, the keg had just blown. The bartender recommended that I try the Double Coffee Stout, assuring me that it was "just as good as Speedway". I think I may have liked it even better than Speedway (Kopi Luwak, not withstanding).
5. Alesmith Summer Yulesmith - This stuff was liquid crack to me this past summer. I drank it, I cooked with it, I may have considered bathing in it.
4. Cantillon Fou' Foune - I may have actually liked this better than Duck Duck Gooze (both complex sours), but I only got to have one glass of this, and that was back last spring. I do remember it being friggin' amazing though, and I've been on the lookout for it ever since that first taste.
3. Lost Abbey Duck Duck Gooze - Very yummy, complex sour. I've been resisting the temptation to ask Hungus to open our last bottle of this.
1. Russian River Consecration / Alesmith Kopi Luwak Speedway Stout (tie)

I just really can't decide between these two for the number one spot. I think I'd rate the SS over Batch 002 of Consecration, but maybe not over Batch 001. If I was given the choice between one or the other, the decision would depend on my mood on a given day.

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We had it at Stone Sour Fest...tried it as a novelty because of the name, but it was one of the highlights of the Fest. Apparently the brewers (Drake's) are big George Brett fans. They've also apparently brewed a Pine Tar barley wine.